Cutaneous abnormalities in uremic patients

94 uremic patients, 68 on regular hemodialysis treatment (RHT) and 26 on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), were followed for up to 20 months in search of dermatological manifestations. 79% of RHT and 76% of CAPD patients had some kind of cutaneous lesion. The most characteristic features of cutaneous involvement in RHT and CAPD patients were: cutaneous xerosis, pruritus, infectious manifestations and disorders of pigmentation. In 4 RHT patients, precancerous and cancerous manifestations were also observed.

Cutaneous manifestations in renal transplant recipients

Out of 105 renal transplant recipients 100 had skin lesions: 55% iatrogenic, 74% infectious, 12% precancerous or cancerous and 4% miscellaneous. Many of these lesions were at least in part transient, and steroid-related skin lesions became less frequent as years progressed. The more frequent infections were the fungal ones, followed by viral and bacterial infections with different patterns of onset. All the precancerous lesions appeared late and were almost exclusively represented by actinic keratoses; 2 evolved into squamous cell epitheliomata. 2 patients died due to Kaposi's sarcoma and melanoma. The high incidence of skin cancers in transplanted patients and the rapid evolution of dyskeratoses into spinaliomas warrants close dermatological surveillance.

Comparison between immunofixation and crossed immunoelectrophoresis for the detection of C3 activation products

C3 breakdown products were measured in 51 fresh and stored sera and/or EDTA plasma samples from 18 healthy subjects, 8 patients affected by essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia, and 15 patients with miscellaneous glomerulonephritis, by simultaneous crossed immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation. C3 splitting products, as determined by both methods compared well, and showed a highly significant correlation. The advantages and reliability of these two methods are discussed. Immunofixation seems to be the most suitable for routine use in clinical practice, being less expensive and more rapid to perform.